Pneumatic system for the seizure and transfer of packs of products

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic system for seizing ( 10 ) and transferring packs ( 11 ) of products, suitable for transferring packs from a feeder and inserting them into bags ( 12 ), comprising at least one opening ( 20 ) connected at one end to the suction plant ( 15 ) and having, at the other end, a pair of suction mouthpieces ( 21 ) separated by a septum ( 22 )

The present invention relates to a pneumatic system for seizing andtransferring packs of products.

More specifically, the invention relates to a pneumatic system forseizing and transferring sealed packs of products, destined forinserting the same inside bags.

The packaging of products grouped into sealed packs, is currentlyeffected using boxes, for example made of cardboard, in which the formedand sealed packs are inserted.

In this respect, in the known art, there are pneumatic seizing devicescomprising suckers made of elastic material equipped with an innersuction channel destined for the seizing of packs also having delicatecontents, but which do not pay particular attention to possibleoscillations of the pack during the transporting and releasing phase, asthese devices are destined for the filling of rigid containers by thefalling of the pack.

For reasons linked to preserving the product fragrance, which, in thecase of aromatic or spicy products, such as tea, is of fundamentalimportance, the use of bags for the external packaging, instead ofboxes, has become widely diffused.

The packaging of containers which are limitedly rigid or semi-soft, suchas a bag, however, causes considerable problems, for example in theinsertion phase of the pack or in the arrangement of several packs in abag.

This problem is particularly felt with respect to a rapid and effectiveseizure and handling and also to the necessity of an orderly arrangementof the packs inside the bag.

A different drawback of the types of packaging according to the knownart, relates to the materials used, polyethylene and other plasticmaterials for the packs and box cover and cardboard, i.e. cellulosematerial, for the box itself.

These different materials lead to the necessity of a differentiatedcollection and impose, according to the laws in force in certainCountries, additional costs for the producer.

The necessity is currently felt for effecting packaging by means ofpacks inserted into bags and providing a system for the seizure andtransfer of packs of products and in particular for soft packages havingvariable configurations.

One of the main objectives of the present invention consists inproviding a pneumatic system for the seizure and transfer of packs ofproducts, in particular soft packages, destined for an apparatus whichallows one or more packs to be inserted inside a bag in an automated andoptimized form.

The Applicant has found that it is possible to effect the packaging ofpacks inside bags by means of an insertion apparatus comprising apneumatic system for the seizure and transfer of packs of products,which allows the rapid seizure and the firm holding of the packageduring its movement and which allows the guided and orderly insertion ofone or more packs of products inside a bag.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a pneumatic system for theseizure and transfer of packs of products suitable for transferringpackages from a feeder and inserting them inside bags, according to thedisclosure of claim 1.

Further characteristics of the invention are the object of the dependentclaims.

The characteristics and advantages of a pneumatic system for the seizureand transfer of packs of products according to the present inventionwill appear more evident from the following illustrative andnon-limiting description referring to the schematic drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a raised, partially sectional schematic view of the pneumaticsystem according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view from below, of a detail of the pneumatic systemaccording to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a raised partial section which represents the insertion phaseof a package inside a bag by means of the pneumatic system according tothe invention.

With reference to the figures, these illustrate a pneumatic system forthe seizing 10 and transfer of sealed packs 11 of products, preferablyfood products, destined to operate in combination with an apparatus forthe insertion of the sealed packs 11 inside bags 12.

The system according to the invention can obviously be used for any kindof products, packed inside a package 11 of the rigid or soft type, andcan operate in combination with any insertion apparatus, operating fromabove.

The system according to the invention can be electively used in thefield of the packaging of fragrant and aromatic food products, such astea which, once inserted in bags, is first sealed inside packs 11 and isthen packed into bags 12 having a limited rigidity.

In particular, the bags are made of plastic materials such aspolyethylene for food or similar, and have a limited rigidity whichallows self-sustainment in an open position and in elevation.

In this respect, the bag 12 preferably has a substantiallyparallelepiped form with side walls 12 a positioned parallel to thetranslation direction of the bags and front walls 12 b, transversal tosaid direction.

The pneumatic system according to the invention is described withreference to a single production line and bags 12 suitable forcontaining two overlying packages 11, in industrial applicationshowever, it can be a series, consisting of parallel production lines,and various rows of overlying packages can be inserted inside the bags.

The number of lines or packages to be inserted in each bag can varyaccording to the production demands and in relation to the dimensions ofthe products.

The pneumatic system object of the present invention, suitable fortransferring packages from a feeder and inserting them inside bags 12,comprises at least one opening 20 connected to a first end 20′ to asuction plant 15 by means of a tang 28 and having at a second end 20″ apair of suction mouths 21 separated by a septum 22.

This system is integrated in a filling station of a packaging plant andis situated near a feeding line of bags coming from a forming plant orfrom a distributor and supported on trays 14 suitable for containing andalso supporting the bags.

The pneumatic system according to the invention effects the seizure ofpacks, starting from a pack feeder 11, which have been previouslysealed, containing the products.

Said pack feeder 11 can consist of a parallel or transversal line withrespect to the bag feeding line, or can envisage other feeding meansallowing an adequate rate.

As the openings 20 are part of the system 10, they are advantageouslynumerous, in the order of 10 or more, to allow the seizure and insertionof several packs 11, by optimizing and the accelerating the operations.

Each opening 20 also has suction nozzles 23 which are situated on themouths 21 and it is advantageously tapered towards the first end whichis connected to the suction.

In this way, the suction flows are optimized and at the same time, thepresence of tilted walls 27 of the opening facilitates the insertionoperations of the package inside the bag, and, above all, the extractionof the opening from the bag without interfering with the edges of thebag or with stiffening means 40 and insertion guides are envisaged atthe inlet of the bag to facilitate the insertion of the package.

Each opening is supported by at least one bar 16, preferably a pair ofbars 16 and is equipped with leverisms and translators 17, suitable fortransferring the package from the seizure point to the deposit point.

Each opening can be rotated by about 90° C. around the sleeve 28 inrelation to the orientation of the packages and bags, rapidly andwithout using tools. By extracting the opening 20 from the tube 15, theopening 20′, having a square section, is disengaged by compressing aspring 29 positioned along the tang 28. Once rotated, the spring allowsthe opening to be inserted onto the tube, whereas the opening 20′,having a square section, ensures that the orientation is maintained. Arubber gasket guarantees the seal of the suction circuit in bothconfigurations.

The squaring and stiffening means 40 are mainly aimed at squaring themouth of the bag and effecting the stiffening necessary for allowing therapid and precise introduction of the packages 11.

These means advantageously operate on the short sides of the bag and,therefore it is necessary to rotate the package before the insertion.

In particular, these squaring and stiffening means 40 are electivelyused with packages of the soft type, for which they also have a guidingfunction for correct positioning inside the bag.

For packages of the soft type, the use of the device according to theinvention is particularly advantageous as, through its configuration atthe ends, the opening is capable of firmly holding the package on aquadrangular surface, facilitated by the fact that the container of thepackage is necessarily impermeable and sealed and consequently thesuction of the opening operates on it in an optimized way, generating atensioning of the container around the contents, which allows a firmhold.

1. A pneumatic system for the seizure (10) and transfer of packs (11) ofproducts, suitable for transferring packages from a feeder and insertingthem into bags (12), characterized in that it comprises at least oneopening (20), connected at a first end (20′) to a suction plant (15) andhaving, at a second end (20″), a pair of suction mouthpieces (21)separated by a septum (22) and equipped with nozzles (23).
 2. Thepneumatic seizure system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said suctionmouths (21) generate a tensioning of the package container, firmlyenveloping the contents, allowing a strong hold without oscillations. 3.The pneumatic seizure system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said atleast one opening (20) has tilted walls (27), which are tapered in thedirection of the first end (20′) connected to the suction (15).
 4. Thepneumatic seizure system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the presenceof a series of openings (20) connected to the suction plant (15), isenvisaged.
 5. The pneumatic seizure system (10) according to claim 1,wherein each opening (20) is supported by at least one bar (16),preferably a pair of bars (16) and is equipped with leverisms andtranslators (17) suitable for transferring the product from the seizureposition to the insertion position.
 6. The pneumatic seizure system (10)according to claim 1, wherein each opening (20) can be rotated by about90° C. rapidly and without using tools, guaranteeing the solidity of thehold.
 7. The pneumatic seizure system (10) according to claim 1, whereinsaid system is envisaged for cooperating with an insertion apparatus ofpackages into bags, equipped with squaring and stiffening means (40)mainly aimed at squaring the mouth of the bag and effecting thenecessary stiffening to allow the rapid and precise introduction of thepackages (11).
 8. A packaging plant equipped with a pneumatic seizuresystem (10) according claim 1.